Elective Courses

What are "elective" courses?

• Elective courses are those that you take for no other reason than personal interest. Electives can bring wide variety to your studies, or can be focused to achieve a particular academic, skill building, or professional goal.
  
  
• Junior transfers, especially those having completed IGETC and prepared thoroughly for their major, often have a great deal of "elective flexibility" in their academic scheduling. This is a tremendous opportunity!
  
  
• As a junior transfer with IGETC and major prerequisites completed, you should plan to take at least two courses for your major plus one or two elective courses each semester.
  
  
• The ability to take electives during your undergraduate career is an integral element of a liberal arts education.
  
  
• Your time at Cal as an undergrad will most likely be your last chance to explore other fields that interest you. For instance, if you are a Physics major, but you have always wanted to learn about Scandinavian Literature, don't let that curiosity go to waste! Take a Scandinavian Literature class!
  
  
• Generally, graduate schools want you to come in with a wide spectrum of knowledge, and not just expertise in their own major. Although any given graduate or professional program will want you to have an understanding of the particular field, this does not mean that they want you to be overly specialized in that field. Diverse thinking involves bringing knowledge gained through the study of different disciplines to bear on your studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q - Electives seem like a waste of time. Shouldn't I double major or add a minor instead?

A - Not necessarily. You may think that majoring in two fields or adding a minor will put you ahead of the pack. This is not normally the case. Generally, employers and graduate schools care about the quality of your academic performance, and not about the quantity of majors or minors that you complete. The broader your academic experience, the greater will be your potential to meet the needs of future academic programs or professional endeavors. A broad education is a strong foundation for maximizing your future options in academia and in life!

Minor

Normal Progress